Amusement machine



Oct. 9, 1934. J. F. MEYER AMUSEMENT MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 25, 1930 Q if Patented Oct. 9, 1934 PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT MACHINE John F. Meyer, Pasadena, Calif.

Original application August 25, 1930, Serial No. I 477,496. Divided and this application October 3, 1931, Serial No. 566,614

1 Claim.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 477,496, filed August 25, 1930.

This invention relates to amusement machines of the kind affording entertainment to the operator and to others observing the operation thereof.

The salient objects of my invention are to provide a novel amusement machine which will embody a plurality of indicating devices that may be selectively operated to attract attention to indicia or the like associated therewith; wherein the indicia and indicating devices may be arranged in a compartment in plain view of the operator and other persons; and which will be simple and economical in construction and positive and eflicient in operation.

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of my improved amusement machine;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical connections employed in the machine;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a switch employed in the device.

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 5 indicates a cabinet in the upper portion of which there is a compartment 6. In the compartment 6 there is a vertically extending plate 7 having rounded end portions 8 and 9 extending to the front of the compartment and the portion of the plate 7 intermediate the rounded end portions is preferably substantially flat and is arranged adjacent the rear wall of the compartment. A front wall of the compartment 6 is provided by a frame 10 having a glass plate or panel 11 therein through which the front surface of the plate 7 may be viewed. On the curved end 8 of the plate '7 a plurality of indicating devices are provided which in the present instance are in the form of lamps 12 mounted in sockets 13 suitably secured on the plate 7. The lamps 12 are arranged in vertical alinement as shown in Fig. l and in horizontal alinement with these lamps are words indicative, in the present instance, of human passions. These words or indicia are provided on the front surface of the plate 7 preferably on the portion thereof intermediate the curved ends. 0n the curved end 9 of the plate 7 provision is made for the reception of pictures or other indicia which may be illustrative of the words alined with the respective lamps. If desired the machine may be coin controlled and one form of operating mechanism is disclosed in the co-pending application of which this application is a division. However, any suitable means may be provided for rendering the lamps 12 operative to thereby attract attention to the indicia alined with the lamp which is rendered operative. In the present instance a plate of dielectric material 14 is provided which has a plurality of contacts 15 arranged circumferentially about a shaft 16 or the like mounted in the center of the plate 14. This shaft 16 may be arranged for rotation by a mechanism such as that disclosed in my referred to co-pending application or it may be manually operated. Fast on-the shaft 16 is a wiper contact arm 17 carrying a wiper contact 18 which may be successively moved into engagement with the respective contacts 15.

Connected to each of the indicating devices 01' lamps 12 are conductors 19 and 20. The conductor 19 of each of the lamps is connected to the line-wire 21. The line-wire 22 is connected to a spring contact 23 arranged adjacent a spring contact 24, these contacts providing a switch which may be eliminated if so desired, and in this instance the line-wire 22 would be directly connected to the conductor 25 which in the present instance is connected to the contact 24. The conductor 25 is connected to the attaching means 26 to thereby be connected to the wiper contact arm 17. Each of the conductors 20 of the lamps 12 are connected to one of the contacts 15. There are, however, a greater number of contacts 15 than there are lamps l2 and consequently each of the contacts 15 will not have a conductor 20 connected thereto. Thus, conductors 27 extend between a contact 15 not having a conductor 20 connected thereto and a contact 15 having a conductor 20 connected thereto. Preferably the contacts 15 interconnected by conductors 2'7 will not be arranged in juxtaposition to each other but Will be, for example, in diametric opposition or in other remote relation. Consequently certain of the lamps are connected to two of the contacts 15 and therefore these lamps will be operated oftener than the lamps connected to but one of the contacts 15. Preferably the switch means including the contacts 15 will be located in a compartment separated from the compartment 6. In use the wiper contact arm 1'7 is successively moved over the contacts 15 and as the wiper contact 18 moves into engagement with one of the contacts 15, a circuit will be closed to the lamp connected to the contact 15 engaged by the wiper 18, provided the contacts 23 and 24 are engaged or other suitable switch means used is closed.

This circuit will be as follows: from line-wire 22 to contact 23, contact 24, conductor 25, wiper contact arm 17, wiper contact 18, a contact 15, a conductor 20, lamp 12, conductor 19, to line-wire 21. So long as the contacts 23 and 24 are engaged the respective lamp 12 will remain operative to thereby attract attention to the indicia alined therewith, By successively moving the wiper 18 to engage the various contacts 15 the various lamps will be operated and as this will attract attention to indicia associated with the lamps and as this indicia is indicia of human passions it is manifest that a highly amusing machine will result.

In the foregoing description I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims:

I claim: In an amusement machine which has a cabinet having a compartment therein, a transparent plate closing the front wall of said compartment, a plate having rounded end portions extending to the front wall of the compartment and having the portion thereof intermediate the rounded end portions spaced from and substantially parallel with said transparent plate, said plate having suitable indicia thereon on said intermediate portion and one of said rounded end portions, and indicating devices mounted on the other of said rounded end portions and respectively alined with the indicia on said plate, the combination of a plurality of contacts, conductors separately connecting each of the indicating devices with one or more of said contacts, a movable contact adapted to successively engage said contacts, a switch, a conductor connecting said movable contact with one terminal of said switch, a line wire connected to the other terminal of said switch, another line wire connected to all of said indicating devices, and means for moving said movable contact successively over said contacts.

JOHN F. MEYER. 

